Railroad-switch.



No. 634,309. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

J'. E. PETER.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

(Application filed July 5, 1899.) (No Model.)

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JOHN E. PETER, OF THOMAS, \VEST VIRGINIA.

RAI LROAD-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,309, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed July 8, 1899- Serial No. 723,212. (No model.)

To aZZ 2071 0717, 7125 may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. PETER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Thomas, in the county of Tucker and State of West Virginia, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-S witches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switches, and more particularly to switch-tnrnin g mechanism employed for tramways and the like.

The invention has for its object to provide new and novel means adapted to be attached to the platform of a car and designed to engage the switch-turning mechanism and opcrate the switch in the desired direction.

The invention has for its further object to construct an apparatus of the above-described class that may be easily applied to the ordinary switch now in use; furthermore, to assemble all the parts in such a manner that the same are easily accessible in case repairs are needed.

Another object of the invention is to construct an apparatus of this class that will be extremely simple in its construction and strong, durable, and accurate in its operation at all times; furthermore, one that can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the main track and siding provided with my improved switch-turning mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the car and vertical sectional view of the switch-turningmechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the casing having arranged therein my improved switch-turning mechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the block arranged upon the upper side of sion 6, this lever being adapted to operate in V the slot 7, formed in the bottom of the platform of the car. The curved rearward extension 6 of the lever 4. extends rearwardly to a point beyond the axis of the front wheel.

The reference-numeral 8 indicates a casing having a supplemental casing 9 formed integral therewith, both casings being provided with suitable covers. The casing 8 has formed therein, on its upper face, recesses 10' for the reception of the block 11, having inclined faces 12 at each end thereof, which are provided with the slots 13, adapted to receive the shoes 14:, pivotally connected thereto, as at 15. These shoes carry a shank 16, having formed therein, near its lower extremity, an aperture 17 and is adapted to fit in slots 18, formed in the lever-arm 19, which is pivotally secured therein, as at 20. The said lever-arm has its one end bifurcated, as shown at 21, for the reception of the switch-operating arm 22, which is pivotally connected therewith, as shown at 23. The end of said switch-operating arm is apertured, as at 24, for the connection therewith of one end of the retractile spring 25, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the lug 26, rigidly attached to the bottom of the casing. The forward portion of the switch-operating arm is of an inverted-S shape and is indicated by the reference-numeral 27, this arm being inclined upwardly, as shown at 28, and is apertured, as at 29, forming a fulcrum-point on the under face of the rail, at which point the arm is secured thereto. A slot 30 is formed near the end of the switch-operatin g arm for the reception of a pin arranged to the under face of the switch-tongue and operating in the slot 31, formed in the rail of the side track.

The operation of my improved switch-turning mechanism is as follows: When it is desired to operate the switch, the lever l is operated so as to bring the curved rearward extension (3 and the lever in close proximity with the rail and engaging the upper face of the shoe, operating the latter to the position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings and imparting motion to the switchoperating arm, which in turn operates the switch-tongue. By this operation the spring 25 will be expanded, and when the curved extension of the lever passes the forward shoe 14: the spring 25 will retract and cause the switch-tongue to resume its normal position. The switch-operating mechanism will again be turned as the rearwardly-extending curved portion of the lever reaches the forward shoe, thus allowing the rear wheels to travel in the desired course, and when the end of the said rearwardly-extending curved portion of the lever travels beyond this point the retractile spring 25 will again return the mechanism to its normal position.

As illustrated in the drawings, two sets of levers are employed, one at the forward platform and one in the rear platform, allowing the mechanism to be operated from either side.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction of my improved switch-turning mechanism without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a switch-turning mechanism, the combination of a casing and a supplemental casing, a block arranged therein havinginclined faces at each end thereof, shoes arranged in slots formed in said block and pivotally secured therein, shanks arranged on said shoes and formed integral therewith, alever-arm connecting said shanks, a switch-operating arm pivotally connected to said lever-arm, the end of said switch-operating arm connected to a switch-tongue, and curved rearward-extending levers suspended from the platform of the car adapted to engage said shoes, substantially as described.

2. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with a car-platform, of a lever having a rearwardly-extending curved extension pivotally secured to the said platform, a casing, a supplemental casing formed integral therewith, a block supported by the first-named easing, shoes pivotallyseeured to and operating through the said block, a lever-arm connecting the said shoes, a switchoperating arm connected to the said lever, and a retractile spring having one end connected to the bottom of the first-named casing and its opposite end connected to the said switch-arm, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. PETE t.

Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, WILLIAM E. Mmou. 

